Children and young people’s health partnership – implementing and evaluating a new model of care

Researchers in CLAHRC SL's maternity and women’s health theme, working alongside implementation specialists in the Centre for Implementation Science, are helping to implement and evaluate a new programme that is designed to improve the way health care is delivered for the 190,000 children and young people living in the boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth.

The Children and Young People Health Partnership (CYPHP) model of care has been co-designed by local clinicians, parents, carers, children and young people, researchers, commissioners and providers. The aim is to bring about change by testing and proving the benefits of a new model of care and new approaches to the way health care is delivered.

Why is there a need for this?

The boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark have relatively young ethnically diverse populations, which are among the most deprived in the country. Initial research by the CYPHP revealed significant problems with children and young people’s health services in the boroughs, including high and increasing hospital use, poor management of long-term conditions, and healthcare needs not being met.

The CYPHP programme aims to ensure that health services are shaped around the needs of children and their families, and this means delivering more of children's health care closer to home and schools.

Managing everyday health care

The focus of the new model of care is on managing everyday health conditions and long-term conditions, such as asthma and epilepsy.

The first research phase of the programme also showed that services for young people in Lambeth and Southwark are poorly coordinated and arranged in ways that makes it hard for young people to access health care, particularly vulnerable young people, such as those in care, who have the greatest health needs. The programme will be working with GP practices and other health care providers to help train them to make young people feel more welcome.

How is the CLAHRC involved?

The new model of care is now being piloted in north Lambeth, and is due for full implementation across Lambeth and Southwark from April 2017. Implementation science experts from the Centre for Implementation Science will be providing advice on how to do this, and then evaluating the implementation, including analysing whether or not the new model is cost efficient. The plan is to build up evidence that can help to improve the way children’s and young people’s services are delivered, both during and after the study.

Who else is involved in the partnership?

The partnership is made up of Lambeth and Southwark clinical commissioning

groups; Lambeth and Southwark Councils; The Evelina London Children’s Hospital; Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust; King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; King’s College London; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; and children, young people and families living in Lambeth and Southwark. The programme is currently being funded by the Guy's and St Thomas' Charity.

The project was adopted by CLAHRC South London in November 2016. Implementation and evaluation began in 2017, and the project is expected to finish in July 2020.